California Fall Color

Dude, autumn happens here, too.

Fall color has now descended to the mid elevations throughout California, with peak color occurring in the vineyards, the Sierra foothills, the San Jacinto Mountains in Southern California and on Hwy 299 between Redding and Weaverville.

Color is peaking in urban forests and orchards of the Sacramento Valley.  With an approaching storm, leaf peepers and photographers are advised to go now to peaking areas, before the leaves are further denuded from branches.

Eastern Sierra

75 – 100% – Owens Valley - The Owens Valley remains beautiful with long-lasting spots of bright color along US 395 in Bishop and Independence.

75 – 100% – Rock Creek - First to peak and last to peak in the Eastern Sierra, Rock Creek continues to have areas of lovely color at its lowest elevations.

Past Peak – June Lake - Although there are small pockets of nice  color found along the June Lake Loop, this area is now mostly past peak.

High Sierra

Past Peak – All elevations above 5,000′ are now past peak.

Past Peak – Yosemite Valley - The combination of snow on fall color was gorgeous in Yosemite Valley this past weekend, but this likely was the last spurt of leaf peeping to be seen in the national park.

Gold Country

75 – 100% - Color has descended along the Mother Lode with beautiful orange and yellow maples and oaks showing from the 2,000 to 4,000′ elevations.

Central Valley

75 – 100% - The urban forests in Sacramento, Modesto and  cities of the northern Central Valley have been peaking for the past two weeks with beautiful color reported.  Sacramento is a veritable jewel box of brilliant reds, auburns, oranges, yellows and chartreuse.  Recent storms have affected some trees, though there’s still a lots and lots of color to be seen.   Go Now!

North Coast

75 – 100% – Napa and Sonoma County Vineyards - As has been happening for near a  month, the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma Counties have been peaking, with vineyards showing ruby, orange, yellow and lime by variety.  The wine country doesn’t change all at once, it shows by plot, though lots of great color remains.  Go Now!

Southern California

75 – 100% – San Jacinto Mountains - Dazzling displays of yellow and orange have been seen among the maple and oaks of the San Jacinto Mountains near Lake Hemet, Mountain Center and Idyllwild.  Go Now!

75 – 100% – Lake Hemet, San Jacinto Mountains - A glorious day for a picnic is Veteran’s Day, and on that day, Todd Stepien of Lake Hemet Campgrounds sends these photos of gold dressing the shoreline of the lake, near Mountain Center in the San Jacinto Mountains.  There’s still time to head out today, camp tonight and spend the Monday holiday in the mountains, surrounded by “old glory.”

Location: Palm Springs, Calif.
Temperature: 60.8 °F
Humidity: 15%
Dew point: 14 °F
Wind speed: n/a
Wind direction: n/a
Cloud cover: n/a

75 – 100% – San Jacinto Mountains - Todd Stepien, of the Lake Hemet Campgrounds in the San Jacinto Mountains (Southern California) reports cottonwood glowing bright yellow.  Other species to be seen in the San Jacintos are California black oak, which display large orange leaves set against black branches.  Visit www.lakehemetrecreation.com for directions and information on camping in the area.

Los Angeles County

15 – 30% – LA County Arboretum – Frank McDonough reports color at the arboretum is looking about the same as reported last week, with some species showing color, but at the arboretum’s sister garden, Descanso Gardens, located in somewhat cooler La Canada, more color is appearing among liquidambars and one very red and very small Rhus bush.

Location: March AFB, Calif.
Temperature: 77 °F
Humidity: 24%
Dew point: 37.4 °F
Wind speed: 11km/hr
Wind direction: 310°
Cloud cover: n/a